A 15-year-old Dalit girl was found hanging from a tree at Benipur in Sitapur district Tuesday. Police claimed it to be suicide while the victim’s father, Ram Swaroop, a labourer, suspects murder.

Swaroop has filed an FIR against six Dalits, including one 38-year-old Ramesh, at Mishrikh police station in Sitapur. Other accused are Ramesh’s father-in-law Pyare Lal and his family members. Ramesh lives in Piswa under Mishrik police station.

Police said Ram Swaroop alleged that Ramesh, who is married and has no child, wanted to marry his daughter. SP, Sitapur, Tehsildar Singh, said Swaroop suspects that since he rejected the marriage proposal, the accused killed his daughter.

Station House Officer, Mishrikh police station, Ashok Kumar Pandey, said: “The autopsy report states that no injury was found on the body and the cause of death was asphyxia due to ante mortem hanging.”